MERCILESS TO MING?

Shakespeare wisely observed that "when troubles come, they come not in single spies, but in batttalions." And the just-announced news of Ming Campbell's resignation will send shock waves through the Labour front benches. The last thing Gordon brown needs is a Lib dem leadership election, a new rejuvenated Party, and the harsh fact that it will make Brown odd man out in being the only one of the three leaders NOT to have faced a democratic contest of his members. Who will they go for? Either Simon Hughes or even Charlie Kennedy could be a threat. The modernisers like Clegg and Huhne maybe less appealing to a wider electorate. Ming, presumably, fell on his sword because he knew he had to with an election two years away. Brown is, increasingly, looking like yesterday's man. Update: Apparently, there will be at least three contenders for the leadership, from the centre, right and even ye gods... the left.Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. And, hey, wouldn't it be great to actually be able to choose the Party leader and have a vote. Time to go to the pub for a rant.......

WILL HE BE MERCILESS TO MING?

As the Lib Dems gather in Brighton, the rumour mill is working overtime on the prospect of Menzies Campbell hanging on to the leadership. The less likley a snap election, the more it seems that he's in trouble. At 66, Ming is hardly in the first flush of youth. But that is hardly a reason to get rid of him. A better one is that since Charlie Kennedy was forced to pack it in the Libs have plummeted in the polls.
The latest opinion poll for the Independent shows them marooned on 15 points, down seven points since April. Labour continues to flourish on 37 per cent and the Tories are on 34. However, the gloomy findings echo a Sunday Times poll which said 63 per cent of Lib-Dem supporters believed the party would do better with a younger leader. The bad news forMing is there is now talk of David Owen re-joining Labour and his gang Of Four colleague Lord (Bill) Rodgers says he is " disappointed with Sir Menzies's leadership." Just a thought, but I suppose if Rodgers, Owen and Shirley Williams all jump ship and head back to Labour, then Ming is surely doomed....

LIB-LAB GOVERNMENT?

When Gordon Brown talked recently of a "government of all the talents," some may have harboured hopes that would mean a more inclusive approach and maybe one or two centre-left MPs in the Cabinet.Maybe that will still happen. But, ominously, the Guardian reports today that Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell have held "private discussions" in recent days about a plan for one or two senior Lib Dems to join Mr Brown's first cabinet for a possible all-party initiative on the future of the British constitution. Brown and Ming are old friends , which is fine. Paraxchuting Lib dems into the Cabinet would not, I wager, be well-received by the Party.Let's hope this is just speculation.

UPDATE: Ming now denying this. So Gawd knows what Gord is up to.